Thoughts for today .....

Five of them are four of them and six of them are three:
Eight of them are five of them - whatever can they be?!

YYUR
YYUB
ICUR
YY4Me

Little birdie flying high
Dropped a message through the sky.
Said the farmer, wiping his eye
'Damn good thing that cows can't fly'!


I love you so dearly, I love you so mighty
I wish your pyjamas were next to my nightie.
Oh, don't be mistaken, don't be misled;
I mean on the clothesline, and not in the bed!


If the Gbmt
put:
If the Gbfull
don't put:

Grandpa's getting old and grey,
His whiskers get in Grandma's way
And when she chews them in her sleep
She dreams she's eating shredded wheat!

I chose this page because it's pink
But what to write I cannot think

The future lies before you like a path of driven snow;
Be careful how you tread it as every step will show.

A fly and a flea in a flue
Were imprisoned so what could they do?
Let us fly said the flea,
Let us flee said the fly
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

There once were two cats of Kilkenny
Each thought 'that is one cat too many'
So they fought and they fit
And they scratched and they bit
'Til (excepting their nails
And the tips of their tails)
Instead of two cats there weren't any.

Under the sea, fast asleep
There lies Jenny fast asleep
All the fishes hold their noses
'Cause of the smell of Jenny's toses.




Moses supposes his toses are roses
But Moses supposes eroneously





Roses are red
Violets are blue
Someone is smelling
So let it not be you!

and finally: 

Betty Botter bought some butter
But the butter Betty Botter bought was bitter butter.
So Betty Butter went and bought some butter
That was better than the bitter butter
Betty Botter bought before!

(see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Botter)

Clue for one of the ones above:

Some of my ideas for being organised
This is likely to be an ongoing project as and when I think of things

1  Chopin, Lizst: Have a copy of a general shopping list with everything you buy hung up in the kitchen.  Group items according to type/where found in the shop etc. 
When something is nearly running out - or you have an idea for supper, or indeed find an interesting recipe - mark the item(s) on the list.  Then take the whole list when you go shopping.  

Incidentally, this list may remind you of something that you didn't even think of writing down but are likely to need soon.  

I've just found the list (above) which was used many years ago, when the children were small, so it now needs updating as there are so many foods we eat now which weren't available at that time.  These days, instead of saying 'cheese, cream cheese' it's more likely to say 'cheddar, cream cheese, feta, mascapone, mozarella, brie, etc etc.'!

2  Clean and tidy whilst you're doing something else.  For instance, whilst my daughter was having her bath I used to clean the rest of the the bathroom, then when she got out I cleaned the bath and hey presto! one clean room.  
In the same vein: when saying good night to your child, tidy a shelf, put away a few clothes, sort a box and have a chat with her. Nice quality time with your child, and another job done!
I also do this when talking to my husband but have to be careful or he doesn't feel he's getting my undivided attention, so doesn't work when doing this blog or looking up stuff on the internet.

3  Train your children/spouse to clear up after themselves.  It's no trouble for them to put their own plate to wash, get themselves a drink, put their own clothes in the laundry basket, but saves you so much time.  It may take time at the beginning but they soon get used to it and are more likely to appreciate what you do.  Then you can start to delegate more to them.  It's good for them to learn how to look after themselves, even your spouse!  Delegate! You're not just here to run round after them!

4  Put it away: As Shirley Conran used to say in her book 'Superwoman'.  Well she said at least two very important things, the first being 'Life's too short to stuff a mushroom'.  Some people agree with this and some don't, it rather depends on whether you enjoy stuffing said mushroom. But the important saying of hers which I try to remember was 'don't put it down, put it away'.  I often wander round the house saying this, no wonder they all think I'm nuts! Also the old saying 'a place for everything and everything in its place'.

5  Do less: Realise what's important and what doesn't have to happen at all.  I used to keep a list of  'things to do'. When something had been on the list for several weeks and not done, I came to the conclusion that it didn't actually have to be done - or I'd have done it.  That soon made me realise that it needed to be done now - or deleted from the list.

6  Get important stuff done early.  Make a list the night before of what you want to achieve the next day, then work your way through them, in priority order.  Having said that, I sometimes do a tiny job at the beginning of the day in order to feel I've achieved something!

7  Batch tasks: for instance: 

• Cook vegetables, then make soup in same saucepan.  
• Cook double of everything and freeze half for a cooking-free day later.  
• When out doing errands, don't do as some people (not mentioning any names) do and go out for one thing, come back, then go out again for something else.  This is a complete waste of time.
• Save all the mending and have a 'mending evening' when all items are done at once.  Other thoughts are to have needles, each with different coloured cotton threaded in them stuck in the pin cushion.  Then when something needs mending - do it at once!

8  Plan weekly menu:  Many years ago I worked for local radio, planning a Sunday lunchtime request programme.  It was an interesting part of the job, looking at the requests - all on paper in those days - sorting them into groups, with no more than four requests for each piece of music.  Then deciding on the music, using music asked for and looking at the 'playlist' (cheaper to use music from the playlist).  
Unfortunately, very often the same music was requested each week 'I Love You' by Jim Reeves, 'I just called to say I Love You' by Stevie Wonder, 'Congratulations' by Cliff Richard.  You get the drift, these titles fitted exactly what people wanted to say.  But the trick was to play very similar pieces with a sentiment which fitted, plus was a similar type of music.  
In the two hour programme, it was suggested that I include about four pop songs, one religious, two childrens, two light classical, two country and western etc.  Also, at the beginning of the programme, the music could be fairly fast (following on from a pop programme) but gradually it needed to slow down a bit, but with alternating fast and slow pieces. Once I'd worked out the formula it was easy to do.  Then I would edit the letters, so they were concise, yet still read sensibly. Job done for the week.

It's the same with planning menues for the family: I once wrote down a list of every main meal we had eaten and enjoyed, checking that we were getting a balance diet.  Then I was armed with a list of main meals and could then rotate them as we wanted and rarely was stuck thinking 'whatever can we have to eat this week'. So each weekend I made out a rough list of what we were going to eat that week.  

9 Buy easy-to-look-after clothes: such as easy-wash, preferably minimum iron, clothes.   Get carpets/flooring which isn't a plain dark colour as they show every bit of dirt and fluff.  Don't have shiny tiles/kitchen cupboards which will need cleaning and polishing every day.

10  Encourage everyone to take off their shoes when they come into the house (still haven't managed that one!), and to dump any bags and coats somewhere, rather than hanging them on the floor!

11 Clean using natural products, such as bicarb, vinegar, lemon juice as then no nasty chemicals to wash away.

12 Focus on one project and get it done.  I read this one somewhere and it made lots of sense, but very difficult to achieve.

13 Multi-task.  My daughter rung me once and said 'I often do some cleaning while I talk to you on the phone, as it's boring' ... 'Talking to me or cleaning?' was my reply.  But she had a good point, it meant that we could have a good chinwag and yet something was also being achieved.

14 Learn to say no/prioritise:  Yet another one which isn't always easy to achieve.

15 Apportion time for the computer/internet:  The world won't stop if you don't look at your emails for five minutes ... but it might!

16 When arranging furniture, leave a gap between items (or items and the wall) that is big enough to get the vacuum cleaning, so much easier.

17  Wander around with a damp cloth in your hand (perhaps with a little diluted vinegar on it) and just wipe anything which looks grubby.  It's amazing the amount of time this saves in the long run, although you may look daft when you answer the front door with the cloth still in your hand!  (http://cleanmyspace.com/cleaning-your-small-kitchen-appliances/)

Clutter-free home


Limit TV time.  Or can you do something else whilst the boring bits (such as ads) are on?


Calendar/communicate so everyone knows what everyone else is doing.  This also give you all something to talk about and chance for sharing.


to be finished .....

Eating with fingers is fine in this digital age, says Debretts


In a world of ever-changing standards, a Debrett's guide to etiquette could be considered the last bastion of old-fashioned social decorum.  

So it may be with some bemusement that readers pick up their newest guide, which deals with how best to eat with one's fingers.

The list of modern "dos and don'ts" declares that more informal times mean it is now acceptable to eat with the hands rather than silverware.

Table manners are no longer about adhering to a rigid and outdated, code of conduct, it proclaims, with the use of a knife and fork no longer an essential part of dining.

The guide, which includes a 10-point plan to eating with the fingers, is a marked departure from previous guidance from Debrett's, which emphasised the proper use of cutlery in polite company.

It says that table manners exist for guidance but should not unnecessarily affect the enjoyment of dining with family and friends.

The new guide states  that in our more informal times, it is acceptable to eat certain foods - such as pizza and calzone - with your hands.  It goes on to explain that the aim should be to create as little mess as possible with food cut into manageable pieces and sufficiently cool.

When eating with your hands it can be tempting to hunch over your plate, so try to sit up straight, don't intrude into others' space and never put your elbows on the table.

Critically, any food spilling on the plate then should be dealt with using a fork.  Don't pick it up with your fingers.

According to the rules, which concentrate on Italian cuisine, diners shyould make use of a napkin, placing it on the lap to ensure that clothes remain pristine. Wipe your hands as you need to, try to avoid licking your hands clean.

Other pitfalls, such as getting food on the lips, should be dealt with in a discreet dabbing motion, rather than grand wiping gestures.

The final point of the guide to modern table manners states that eating with your hands is a relaxed and convivual style of dining but don't let your standards slip.  Remember your manners and, above all, never use your phone at the table.

Debrett's prides itself on being the modern authority on all matters etiquette, taste and achievement. (see: http://www.debretts.com/)

THE RULES . . . OF THE GAME - NINE LESSONS

1. You will receive a body: you may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around.
2. You will learn lessons: you are enrolled in a full-time school called life.  Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons.  You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons:  growth is a process of trial and error, experimentation.  The 'failed experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately 'work'.
4. A lesson is repeated until learned: a lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it.  When you have learned it you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end: there is no part of life that does not contain its lessons.  If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.
6. 'There' is no better than 'here: shen your 'there' has become 'here' you will simply obtain another 'there' that will, again look better than 'here'.
7. Others are merely mirrors of you: you cannot love or hate something about anotyher person unless it reflects to you something you love hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you: you have all the tools and resources you need.  What you do with them is up to you.  The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie inside you: all you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

Given to me many years ago by a wise relative.

Go back to basics for boomers

Mobile phone makers seem locked in a space-race trying to out-do each other with more complex functions

But are they are risk of alienating a customer-base who don't want all the bells and ring-tones - the massively lucrative baby boomeer market?

"The mobile phone industry seemed to be losing touch with a huge number of customers," says David Inns, CEO of San Diego-based Jitterbug.  "There are people who don't want a giant chunk of functionality jammed into their mobile phones."

Jitterbug aims to ring the changes with its new phone.  It has a bigger and simpler keyboard, and industry-leading background noise reduction.  When subscribers call customer serivce, they speak to an operator who helps them with tasks such as programming-in contacts.   Jitterbug also offers 24-hour roadside assistance and a Live Nurse function.

Launched in 2006 with 10 employees, Jitterbug now employs 335.  'It's a big market,' Inns explains. 'You could easily say it's a little less than half of the boomers and then go from there.'

See: http://www.greatcall.com/

From a booklet given out by HSBC - 100 Thoughts, Global Perspectives